Hockey with a Twist|令人屏息的水底曲棍球

by Matthew Brown

For those who don't like the cold,

hockey can be played underwater.

不喜欢寒冷的人可以在水里打曲棍球。

There seems to be no limit to the number of sports people can come up with. Sometimes it's just a matter of taking a sport that already exists and giving it a twist. Such is the case with underwater hockey, sometimes called Octopush because it used to be played with eight players. It's unclear whether the creator of underwater hockey was copying ice hockey or not, but his version seems pretty close to the original.

Underwater hockey now involves two teams of six, with each team trying to push a puck into its opponent's net to score points. The puck is about the same size and weight as a hockey puck. It is also very smooth, which helps it slide along the bottom of the pool. Each player wears fins, a snorkel, a mask, and usually at least one glove so that their hands won't get injured. To push the puck, they use a small stick which is about 35 centimeters long.

This unlikely sport was invented in England in 1954 by Alan Blake. It has grown steadily in popularity over the years, which might be surprising if you consider that it's not the easiest game for spectators to enjoy. Picture yourself sitting above the water and watching 12 players frantically swimming around at the bottom of a pool—not a great view of the action. However, games are often shown on video, with underwater photographers capturing the action. If fans really want to get a good look, they can be in the water and watch.

1.  The man who invented underwater hockey _____.

(A) never learned to ice-skate

(B) never heard about ice hockey

(C) may have used ice hockey as an idea

(D) was an ice hockey player

2.  Which of the following is true?

(A) Underwater hockey is not well liked.

(B) Underwater hockey used to be more popular.

(C) Underwater hockey is only played in England.

(D) Underwater hockey originated in England.

3. What did the author imply in the third paragraph?

(A) It is surprising that underwater hockey is popular.

(B) Most people think underwater hockey is a boring sport.

(C) The only way spectators can see the game is to swim.

(D) Underwater hockey is now more popular than ice hockey.

　　人类想得出的运动类型似乎无穷无尽。有时候只是把一项已存在的运动赋予新的花样。像水底曲棍球就是如此，因为它以前为 8人制的运动，所以有时亦被称为 Octopush。水底曲棍球的发明者是否模仿冰上曲棍球不得而知，但他的版本和原本的运动似乎很接近。

　　现今的水底曲棍球分为两队，每队 6 人，双方要想办法将一枚扁圆形的铅饼射进对方的球门得分。这枚圆形铅饼的大小和重量大约和冰上曲棍球用的铅饼一样。它的表面也很光滑，这样在池底才容易滑动。每位选手都会穿上蛙鞋、戴上呼吸管和蛙镜，而且通常至少会戴一只手套，手才不会受伤。他们会使用长约 35 公分的小球杆来推动铅饼。

　　这项看似不可能的运动是由艾伦‧布雷克在 1954 年于英国所创。假如你认为观众不容易看到这项运动的进行，你可能会对以下事实感到意外，那就是多年来这项运动一直愈来愈受到欢迎。想象一下你坐在水面上方，观赏 12 名选手在池底狂乱地游来游去，这可不是观赏选手一举一动的好视线。然而，比赛通常是由摄影师在水中捕捉画面，让观众透过影片观赏比赛。要是球迷真的想拥有绝佳的视野，他们也可以在水中观赛。

标准答案: 1. (C)2. (D)3. (A)

For Your Information

水底曲棍球是个男女同场竞技的比赛，选手们需采用徒手潜水方式作战。比赛分上、下半场各 15 分钟，中场休息 5 分钟。后备球员可自由替换，不限次数。由于在水中难分敌我，所以正式比赛时双方队伍会以黑、白色的球杆来区分。（数据源：壹苹果健康网）